Introduction

EnergyAustralia recognises that the proposed site for the Mt Piper Battery Energy Storage System is on the traditional Country of Wiradjuri peoples and respects and acknowledges their continued connection to Country and culture.
We are currently investigating the development of a new Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) on a preferred site adjacent to our operating Mt Piper power station, near Lithgow.  This project is currently in the early stages of assessment and planning.
The development parameters for the project are a BESS of up to 500 MW of capacity and a duration of up to 4 hours of dispatchable energy, helping to improve diversity and reliability of the electricity network.
If the Mt Piper BESS proceeds it will be the second EnergyAustralia owned BESS under development and, once operational, the fifth BESS that we will have market operation of as we look to transform our electricity generation portfolio and provide cleaner energy for our customers.

Mt Piper Battery Storage

The Mt Piper BESS proposes to utilise nearby, existing infrastructure to develop a grid-scale battery with the capacity to dispatch up to 500 MW of power to the electricity network over a duration of up to 4 hours.
A BESS is an energy storage system that can capture energy from multiple different sources, accumulate that energy, and store it for later use. When necessary, energy is discharged from the battery and to meet demand where needed. Lithium is one of the leading materials used in grid scale battery projects due to its light weight, durability and low maintenance needs; however, the final battery composition for this project is yet to be determined.
Building a BESS adjacent to the Mt Piper power station (within existing EnergyAustralia landholdings) is anticipated to have low environmental and social impacts. The project will also avoid the need to construct lengthy new overhead power lines across private land due to its proximity to existing infrastructure.  

Next Steps

Before the project can be approved there are various studies required to assess that the development is viable and beneficial for the community. These studies relate to the technical, environmental, social, planning, commercial and stakeholder aspects of the project.
As the project continues and we work through our environmental and social assessments, we will look at ways to manage and minimise potential environmental and social impacts, as we refine the design. We will continue to consult with the community in the interest of achieving best project outcomes.
We think the technology has great potential to help supply the people of New South Wales with a reliable source of electricity when demand is high. We also believe this project could support renewable energy development and sustain Lithgow’s future as an energy hub. Energy storage projects, such as this one, are an important part of the national transition to a more secure and reliable energy future.

For more information on the Mt. Piper BESS, please contact us on:

Email on: community@EnergyAustralia.com.au
Phone: 1800 574 947
Postal Address: EnergyAustralia NSW Pty Ltd, 350 Boulder Road, Portland NSW 2847.

Project survey
To have your say on our proposed battery energy storage system simply complete this brief survey.   
Followed by the QR code attached

Mt Piper Battery survey